Piano accordion



Sept. 18, 1945. F. KOSTKA 2,385,286

PIANO ACCORDION Filed Oct. 12, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l 75 if 5 5f I" I i I151 Sept. 18, 1945. KO TKA 2,385,286

PIANO ACCORDION Filed Oct. 12, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet :5

, Inverz'tar; M M,

fli-zorne Patented Sept. 18, 1945 UNITED PATENT QFFIGE C RDION Frank Kostka, Buffalo N. Y. Application Qctoher12, 194,2, Serial No. 461,718

(or. s4 s76) l7 Claims.

Th n tn Q l t enera y ta usi a 1hstruments, but more particularly to certain new 9 se i p o m t i il Qi qiQllh It has for one of its objects to improve the s ruc of he e d h th as em ly of sash s m s eve ea ge Oi air ahhht. th reeds as well as from the reed chamber thereby insure the proper volume of air fcr effectually operating the reeds in obtaininga uniifgrnn ity of tone volume and quality.

'Another object of the invention is to provide the accordion with means for readily and accurately efiecting a lgey transposition of from one half to one and one-half tones in either direction, whereby the musical range-and capacity ton D il QI ma be nqreahhq a he Wil of the player.

u h ec is o ov d a Pia o ccordirqh ha in s mple and re iabl swit h na me ha nism for controlling the actuation of the Valve assembly to in turn govern the tone efiects for Si u ing r se b i g h mm he @ehdan other musical instruments.

A still further object of the invention. is. to so w s t and qhht h ng eys that the y be ad adiu d d d hl a maint in h athe en nd mcqth a t rende thekey action shallow Or deep, the adjustment being s d si ned. as, n t, q- ,isthr th alte controlling extensions, of the keys,

Other features oi? the invention reside in the s cti a angem nt Qt par s reinafter b d. Pa t cu arl Ph h ed Ql t in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings;

i ur 1 is a f e tioh o the tha cordion embodying my improvements, Figure 2 is an end view thereof. Eig-ure. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top. view of the same'with the co er plate removed. Figure 4, is an enlarged tragmentary cross. section taken substantially in the planeof line 4 .v4 Figure 1. Figure 5 is an enlarged horiaontal section taken between the top plate of the windchest and the adjustable reed block and. substantially in the plane of-line. l5.5 of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a fragmentary trans! verse section taken on line (i -:8, Figure 5 Figure 7 is, a fragmentary longitudinal section taken substantially in the'plane of line 1-:1, Figure 4.. ur 8 s a ra mentar hd i wn rt y in sec ion Qf the reed block and hey connections, to he a v er h F u e 9. a. rra meht r t i iew hemed q h. i r r 7 X- FI E WQ- EW- of, thelev r qehtrq mec anism-I th qmrow r ead alv sages are spaced,

Similar characters of reference indicate coreshh d hg par s hroughout the e ral views.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings the accordion consists generally of a rectangular frame H) on one side of which is mounted a bellows H, while on its opposite side and conununicating with the bellows through air passages I2 is a windche st l3 in which is mounted a unitary reed block assembly l4 capable of adjustment therein for transposing purposes; a keyboard 15 extending at the C1 tomary angle to the accordion frame and in adjoining relation to the Windchest and having its white and black keys l5 and I1, respectively, ro e n the us al fashion to o m t e pian key a sembly; and a stop r Switch asse bl wherein the'slelective. control levers. thereof are indicated by the numeral 18, mounted on the top side of thewindchest. between it. and the piano key assembly for conveniently controlling at the will of the player the tone -producing or ee s in a ma n r o simu ate Qr imitate t tonal effects of a violin, cello and other musical instruments. A suitable hood or cover plate 19, ornamented if desired, may extend over the top side of the windchest and below the selective e e "l to c eal te oper t n m nism controlled by the latter. These are marked with suitable identifying characters, as Violin, Q 111 acci etc.

Applied to the topside of the windchest I3 is ametallic plat-e20 of aluminum. or like material whichv is. provided therein with a plurality of long ud nal ws of a le o t 0r.- p sa 2! which are equally spaced and preferably square or rectangularin shape, and which are arranged in two. adjoining. groups inwardly of the-keyboard in correlation with the player keys thereof. The passages, inv the several rows of each groupv are transversely. alined and for each playing key there are four of such passages. The passages. in the several rows are-spaced or separated longitudinally by. comparatively narrow webs 22 while in a, direction transversely of. the plate these pas by. somewhat wider webs 2'3. Mounted onthe. top. side of this plate 2Q. are a plurality of vertically-swinging valves or reed controls; .24 disposed parallel to and coextensive with th compa i n row of p e-o em es 2 for normally closing them, and operatively connected to, the companion switch levers I 8 for controlling the s e-bf a r thro g s ch o enihes d a cordingly governing the; toneaproducin g units or re d m tat t e ton ec s f a vio n, l hr he l ke. The eval es re h fa ed i h. a

transverse row thereof and for -adjustment lengthwise of the windchest I3 for effecting a key transposition of from one-half to one and one-half tones 'ineith'er direction to vary the musical range and capacity of tone production at the will of the player. At.

its bottom side the reed block is provided with a plurality of valves 21 for controlling the flow of air from the windchest through the chambers 'Aand'B thereof, said valves being connected to the playing keysfor selective operation thereby.

Each of these valves seats-over a'plurality of rectangular-shaped ports 28, three being shown in the drawings, formedin the bottom wall 29 of the reed block and communicating with companion'reed chambers. For transposing purposes, the

freed block has extra or additional reed chambers at 'its' oppos'ite ends:

' Each group of reed chambers is preferably formed by providing two longitudinal partitions 38. extending {from the-top to the bottom of the block, resulting in three rows of reed chambers 35, 32 and 33 which are divided at equally spaced intervals by transverse partitions 34 having sub- 'stantially upright grooves or guideways 35 in their opposite side faces for 'removably supporting reed-bearing plates 36. There are four reed plates for each key arranged in each resulting I of these partitioned chambers, two'of the reed plates being disposed in spaced adjoining relation substantially centrally of the middle reed chamber 32, while theother two are arranged in each of the end reed chambers 3i and 33 in'like spaced relation to the companion partitions 3%.

At their upper ends and in the spaces resulting between the central pai of reed plates and between the end reed'plates and the companion longitudinal partitions, these need chambers are closed or sealedairtight by. sealing strips '31, whereby the threejreed chambers at their upper ends define four rows of transversely alined outlets 330i rectangular shape inplan which communicate with thecompanion rows of ports 2! in the plate 29; It will be noted that the 7 two centerrows of outlets -38 arecommon to and communicate'with the middle reed chamber 32 at either side of their companion'pair of reed plates 36, while the end rowsof' outlets communicate with thecompanion end chambers3l, 33 between the reed plates thereof and the opposing walls of the blo'ck. Of the three rows :of the valve-controlled ports 28 formed in the bottom wall of the reed block, the center row thereof communicates with the middle reed chamber 32 between the companion pair of reed plates 36 ar ranged therein, while the end rows of such ports communicate with the end chambers 3| and 33 between the reed plates arranged therein and the companion-partitions 39. Each reed plate carries a pair of reeds 39 and 40, oneoperatingby inflow of airpast the reed and the other upon outflow for producing the same pitch or tone.

In width the plate-ports 2 l and the'reed chamber outlets 38- are the same, while inlen'gth'the The adjustment of the reed block is accomplished by a knob 41 applied to the upper end of an upright shaft 42 journaled in a bracket 43 applied to the top side of the plate 29 and having. a pinion 44 at its lower end meshing with a rack bar 45 secured to the top side of the reed block between the two groups of reed chambers.

The shaft has a radial pin 46 projecting therefrom for engagement with companion radial notches 41 formed in, a plate 38 secured to the bracket 43 and a spring lfiecoiled about this shaft below its pin normally urges and maintains the knob in a set position of'adjustment. For each transposing adjustment of the knob 41, the reed block is moved a distance equal to the length of the plate-ports 2| and in order to observe the adjustment, the block has an indicator pin 5! rising therefrom which is adapted to register with a transposing'scale'52 applied to the cover platelS.

By making the plate-ports 2 substantially square, rather than round, a .full opening is always provided in any adjustment of the reed block for the through passage of the air to operate the reeds, resulting in a louder and more uniform quality of tone. Furthermore, the spac ing of these ports and their relationship to the 'rectangularly-shaped, alined outlets 38 in the top of the reedblock assure proper air control in any transposing adjustment desired by the player without leakage from one reedchamber to an- ;other, it being noted that in anyposition of such adjustment; thatthe transverse partitions 34 oi 'thereed block overlie and register with the companion connecting webs 22 between the plate ports 2| to effectually check any undesirablees- 'cape of air between adjoining chambers- Also, the spacing webs'23between the rows of plate ports overlie and register with the longitudinallypartitioned spaces provided by the partitions 3B jointly with the reed plates 35 and sealing strips 31. The top side of the reed blockl l is provided with a marginal sealing strip {Stand the side and bottom edgesof the slidable'r'efed plates'36 have similar sealing strips E lt'hereo'n to prevent leakageofair about thesame; j

'- The reed block is provided with, longitudinal guide flanges 55 and isdetachably held in'slidin relation to the underside of the plate 2U by two sets of pivoted yieldablej clamping jaws 55,51, the 'jaws 56 being releasably retained in an'operativeposition by companion spring catches 58 and the jaws 51 being similarly ,retained'by latch:- "inglevers59; ,1

The reed block valves 2'! arejh'ing'ed along one of their longitudinal edges tojthe bottom wall 29 of the block It so as to swing sidewise or lateraly to simultaneously expose all of the ports 28 companion thereto to thereby obtain uniformity of tone of all the reeds a'ssociatedth'erewith. Each valve has a hookelike lug 30 a plied'thereto with which a vertically-swingingactuating arm 6 I engages forcont'rolling the opening and closing c '3; In an'accordion, a

,tively connected to said transversely-disposed valves, and-selector levers operatively connected in predetermined relation to said longitudinallydisposed valves.

unitary reed block having a plurality of groups of reed chambers therein, each group including pluralityof rows of feed chambers extending lengthwise of the block and disposed in alined relation transversely thereof, a plurality of rows of transversely-disposed valves in controlling relation with each set of transversely-alined chambers, each valve being fulcrumed at a side edge-thereof and along the companion set of chambers, individual connections for said valves pivotally mounted on the reed block and terminating at one side of the fulcrum thereof in valve-engaging arms and at the opposite side thereof and at substantially right angles to such arms in a row of actuatable elements disposed in longitudinal parallel relation to said block, and player keys provided at their inner ends with actuator elements disposed in parallel relation lengthwise of'the reed block for operative engagement with the -companion valve-connecting elements.

4.1m an accordion, a windchest, a unitary reed block therein having a plurality of groups of reed chambers, each group including aplurality of rows of reed chambers extending lengthwise 'of the block and disposed in alined relation transversely thereof, a plurality of rows of transversely-disposed valves incontrolling relation individual connections for said valves mounted 'on' the reed block and terminating at one side thereof in a row of actuatable elements in longitudinal parallel relation to said block, player keys provided at their inner ends with actuator elements disposed in opposing relation to the reed block and inalined relation lengthwise thereof for operative engagement with the companion valve-connecting elements, and a flexible diaphragm in that Wall of the windchest adjoining the player keys and through which the actuator elements thereof extend in air-sealing engagement therewith; y

5. In an accordion, a windchest including a plate'having a plurality of rows of ports] disposed lengthwise thereof, a unitary reed blockguided for longitudinal adjustment in said windchest for transposing purposes and having rows of reed chambers extending lengthwisethereof for selective registration at one end with said plate ports,

a plurality of rows of valves in controlling relation with said reed chambers; individual connectionsfor said valves pivotally mounted on the reed-block at one side thereof and terminating at one side of the fulcrums thereof in valveactuating arms overlying the valved wall of the block and at the opposite side'thereof in a row of equally-spaced actuatableelements disposed along theadjoining side wall of the block'and terminating in alined'tappet fingers, and player keysprovided attheir inner ends withlikespaced actuator elements disposed in a row in opposing relation to said row of actuatable elements for engagement with the tappet fingers thereof for controlling the movernentsjof the valves to their open and closed positions in different positions of'adjustment of the reed block. 6; In an accordion, awindchest including a top plate-having'a plurality of rows: of ports disposed lengthwise thereof, a keyboard forth'e player Ill) - dinal adjustment in said windchest and on the underside of the top plate thereof for transposing purposes a'ndhaving rows of reed chambers for selective registration at their upper ends with the companion rows of plate-ports, a plurality of rows of valves corresponding in number to the player keys applied to the bottom side of the reed block in controlling relation with the lower ends of the reed chambers, individual connections for said valves mounted on said reed block and terminating at that side thereof adjoining the-"keyboard in a longitudinal row of equi-spaced actuatable elements, a flexible diaphragm applied to the windchest along the adjoining inner side of the keyboard, and actuating connections extending from the player keys through said diaphragm in air-sealing engagement therewith and terminating at their inner ends in actuator elements disposed in a longitudinal row in opposing operative relation to said valve-connecting elements.

7. In an accordion, a windchest includinga top plate having a plurality of rows of ports disposed lengthwise thereof, a keyboard for the player keys extending from the topside of said windchest, a unitary reed block guided for longitudinal adjustment in saidwindchest and on the underside of the top plate thereof for transposing purposes and having rows of reed chambers for selective registration at their upper ends with the companion rows of plate-ports, a plurality of rows of valves corresponding in number'to the player keys applied to the bottom side of the reed block with each set of transversely-aimed chambers, in Controlling relation withzthe lower ends of the reed chambers, individual connections for said valves mounted on said reed block and terminating at that side thereof adjoining the keyboard in a longitudinal row of equi-spaced actuatable elements, a flexible diaphragm applied to the windchest along the adjoining inner side'of the keyboard, actuating connections extending from the player keys through said diaphragm in airsealing engagement therewith and terminating at their inner ends in actuator elements disposed in a longitudinal row in opposing operative relation to said valve-connecting elements, and reed-controlling valves applied to the top side of said ported plate, there being one of such valves for each row of plate-ports, for selectively controlling the companion reed chambers in the reed block.

8. In an accordion, a windchest including a top plate having a plurality of rows of ports disposed lengthwise thereof, a keyboard for the player keys extending from the top side of said windchest, a unitary reed block guided for longitudinal adjustment in said windchest and on the'underside of a chest along the adjoining inner side of thekeyboard, actuating connections extending from the player keys through said diaphragm in air sealing engagement therewith and terminating at their inner ends in actuator elements disposed in alone gitudinal row in opposing operative relation to said valve-connecting elements, a plurality of reedecontrolling valves disposed longitudinally in rows over the companion rows of ports in the reed block plate for selectively controlling the companion rows of reed chambers to imitate the tonal effects ofdiiferent musical instruments, and a plurality of levers each operatively connected collectively'to a predetermined number oi said reedcontrollingvalves for governing their simultaneous movement to open and closed positions.

,9. In an accordion, a windchest including a top plate having a plurality of rows of ports disposed lengthwise thereof, a keyboard for the player keys extending from the top side of said windchest, a unitary reedblockguided for longitudinal adjustment in said windchest and on the underside of the top late thereof for transposing purposes and having rows of reed chambers for selective registration at their upper ends with the companion rows of plate-ports, a plurality oi rows of valves corresponding in number to the player keys applied to the bottom side of the reed block in controlling relation with the lower ends of the reed chambers, individual connections for said valves mounted on said reed block and terminating at that side thereof adjoining the keyboard in a longitudinal row of equi-spaced actuatable elements, a flexible diaphragm applied to the windchest along the adjoining inner side of the keyboard, actuating connections extending from the player keys through said diaphragm in air-sealing engagement therewith and terminating at their inner ends in actuator elements disposed in a longitudinal row in opposing operative relation to said valve-connecting elements, a plurality of reed-controlling valves disposed longitudinally in rows over the companion rows of ports in the reed block plate for selectively controlling the companion rows of reed chambers to imitate the tonal effects of different musical instruments, and a plurality of lea selective operative position and for automatically causing the release 01' a previously-selected lever to an inoperative position.

10. In an accordion, a windchest having a top plate containing a plurality of longitudinal rows of equi-spaced ports, said ports being rectangular for transposing purposes, responding rows of key-governed reed chambers therein for registering communicating relation with said plate-ports, each of said reed chambers being also rectangular in shape and havin a longitudinal dimension approximately twice that of the plate-ports, whereby in certain adjustments of the reed block certain of its chambers are adapted to register individually with two of the plate-ports.

11. In an accordion, a reed block having longitudinal and transverse partitions therein providing longitudinal row of transversely alined chambers, two of the resulting end rows of chambers having reed-bearing plates therein disposed substantially centrally thereof and the middle row of chambers having two parallel rows of reed-bearing plates therein disposed substantially centrally thereof, and a valve-bearing plate applied to one face of said block and having longitudinal rows of ports therein transversely alined with said chambers, the end rowsof such ports communicating with those portions of the companion end chambers between the longitudinal partitions and the reed-bearin plates therein, and the middle row of such ports communicating with that portion of the middle chamber between the reed-bearing plates therein, the opposite ends of said port-communicating chamber portions being closed and the remaining portions of said respectiye chambers at such corresponding ends beingopen.

12. In an accordion, a reed block having a pair of longitudinal partitions therein and transverse partitions spaced to provide transversely alined chambers, parallel rows of reed-bearing plates arranged in said chambers between and slidingly supported on the transverse partitions, therebeing two rows of such plates in the middle chamber provided :by the longitudinal partitions and one row'of such plates in the end chambers, said plates bein so spaced relatively to the longitudinal partitions as to provide reed chambers of uniform dimensions, longitudinal sealing strips applied to one face of the block between the longitudinal partitions and the adjoining end rows of reed plates and between the middle row of reed plates, and a cover plate applied to the opposite face of said reed block and having longitudinal rows of ports therein transversely alined with the companion reed chambers, one row of said ports com- I municating with that portion of the middle chamber between the rows of reed-plates therein and the other rows of such ports communicating, re spectively, with those portions of the end chambers between the longitudinal partitions and the adjoining rows of reed plates.

13. In an accordion, a plurality of rows of reedcontrolling valves, control levers each operatively connected collectively to certain of said valves for simultaneously movin them to an open and closed position, and means for connecting each of said levers to predetermined groups of said valves, comprising a slide bar operatively connected to its companion lever, a pivoted latch engageable with said slide bar for releasably latching it in its valve-opening position, a shiftable link operatively connected to the valves of the companion group, and an operative connection between said slide bar and said link for shifting the latter to a valve-opening position when the former is projected by the companion lever to a selective operative position.

14. In an accordion, a plurality of rows of reedcontrolling valves, control levers each operatively connected collectively to certain of said valves for simultaneously moving them to an open and closed position, and means for connecting each of said levers to predetermined groups of said valves, comprising a slide bar operatively connected to lever, a pivoted latch engageable with said slide bar for releasably latching it in its valve-opening position, a shiftable link operatively connected to the valves of the companion group, an operative connection between said slide bar and said link for shifting the latter to a valveopening position when the former is projected by the companion lever to a selective operative position, a spring connected to each control lever for normally urging it to a released position, and a spring-urged link constituting a common support for each latch adapted to shift any engaged latch to a released position when any other control lever is projected to a selective position.

15. In an accordion, a feed block having rows of transversely-alined reed chambers therein, valves for controlling each group of transverselyalined chambers, each valve being fulcrumed at a longitudinal side edge thereof .to theblockand along the companion group of chambers, player keys operatively, connected:- to said valves for opening them, and means for adjusting said keys to render action shallow or deep to accordingly open said valves in less or greater degree.

16.'In an accordion, a reed block having two groups of reed chambers therein, each group consisting of a plurality of longitudinal rows of chambers transversely alined, two rows of "valves in operative relation with the transversely-alined chambers of the two groups, companion rows of actuating levers pivotally connected to the opposite sides of the reed block at their free ends in opposin relation and operatively connected to the valves for individually controlling them, one row of levers including pivoted extensions operatively connected thereto at one end and extending between the valves and levers of the other row whereby such extensions and said other row of levers are equally spaced, this last-named row of levers and the free ends of the extensions of the companion row of levers terminating in longitudinal alined tappet fingers disposed parallel to the adjoining wall of the reed block..

- 17; In an accordion, a windchest having a'plurality of longitudinal rows of equi-spaced, squareshaped ports in a wall thereof, a' reed block mounted in said windchest for adjustment lengthwise thereof to predetermined positions and hav-- ing companion rows of reed'c'hamber therein for registering communication with the windchest ports, saidreed chambers being rectangular in shape and substantially twice as long as the square-shaped ports, player key-operated valves associated with said reed chambers, means connected to said reed block for adjusting it to different positions proportionate to the dimensions of the square-shaped ports, and means for visibly indicating to the player the different adjustmentof the reed block for transposing. purpose.

a FRANK KOSTKA. 

